Although her study gained front-page attention last week for spotting bears at Elk Island National Park, Frances Stewart’s research is focusing on something much smaller in scale, yet far more massive in scope.

“The question is how well do protected areas actually maintain biodiversity of the landscape?” said Jason Fisher, who is Stewart’s adjunct professor at the University of Victoria and principal investigator of a three-year study to examine the survival of weasels (more specifically, fishers) in the Beaver Hills Moraine.

The study is also Stewart’s PhD thesis.

Stewart and Fisher noted that the weasels had been eradicated from the area primarily due to trapping, but were reintroduced from Eastern Canada populations to the moraine in the 1990s. This isn’t the first time fishers had been reintroduced to a former habitat, but it hasn’t always been as successful as it appears the effort 20 years ago might be.

“One major issue is that many fisher releases involve individuals from eastern North America and they’re transplanted in western North America. Those are two incredibly different habitats,” Stewart said. “You’re taking an animal, which has adapted to hard wood, maple forest from the eastern side of the continent and transplanting it to either mountainous ranges, or aspen parkland such as this area.

“Whether it’s the habitat, whether it’s the genetics of the animal that just doesn’t mix with the area, or whether its other circumstances, such as human influences, potential predators in the areas.... We’re really not sure exactly why some releases work and some don’t, so I thought this may be one instance to try and figure out some of those

questions.”

Added Fisher: “We wanted to know if they have actually taken a foothold, how far have they spread, and are they maintaining in this landscape, because fishers tend to be quite sensitive to human activity and landscape development. So if they’re doing OK in this landscape, they’re a model for how other species are doing as well. And we’re looking across all species, but we figure we’ll probably get the best information from the fishers.”

The Beaver Hills Moraine, — which spans 1,572 square kilometres in the counties of Strathcona, Lamont, Beaver, Leduc and Camrose — is perfect for such a study, Fisher said, noting the area’s diverse landscape and various land uses within proximity of the Rocky Mountain ecozone and the boreal forests to the north.

Noting that Elk Island National Park and Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area are within the study area, Fisher also pointed to a collection of smaller protected areas, agricultural uses, small suburban settings and acreages within the moraine that all play a role in its biodiversity.

“We have a little capsule, if you will, of Alberta sitting right here in the heartland,” he said.

As part of the study, Friends of Elk Island National Park is monitoring 65 cameras that are spread out across the moraine on national park land, as well as private property. The cameras, which are triggered by body heat and movement, are accompanied by bait to lure animals and fur traps to study their DNA from the fur.

It was the Elk Island National Park cameras that photographed the two headline-grabbing bears.

Martha Allen, an Elk Island National Park ecologist, said those who manage the park weren’t surprised bears were captured on camera after coming out of hibernation from the winter. Visitors to the park report bear sightings roughly two or three times a year, she added.

Stewart’s research is also not the only one being conducted on the national park’s property, as bison genetics are also being examined, as are stream insects and habitat selection for western tiger salamanders. She said approximately 10 research projects are currently being conducted at the park, which is primarily known for its woods and plains bison.

“I think Elk Island, as part of this larger Beaver Hills Moraine, is home to a great diversity of wildlife and we’ve got healthy populations of mammals, invertebrates and birds. We’ve got over 50 species of mammals that live in the park, and over 200 species of birds, so it’s a great interest from a wildlife perspective to researchers and visitors,” she said.

Fisher credited the bait, which has been used in research studies elsewhere for the past 10 years, with luring the bears.

“We get deer and moose coming into our sites all the time,” he said. “We get data on them and other small carnivores, like foxes and coyotes. In the mountains we get cougars, wolverines and bears. Basically, everything wants to come in and check out the site.”

Right now, Fisher said the results of Stewart’s research look promising.

“I think it might be more bio-diverse than people actually realize,” he said of the moraine.

“Once we get closer to painting a full picture, I hope people are going to be quite pleased with how their landscape is operating.”

Stewart and Fisher also expressed their gratitude to private landowners who have allowed cameras on their property for the study.

“I was really surprised at how so many people were so eager and interested to find out about this study when we started it this past winter,” Stewart said “There’s a lot of positive energy from people who we involved. It wouldn’t be possible to do this type of broad-scale research. It involves a lot of energy, a lot of time and a lot of help. I wouldn’t be able to do it on my own.”

The study is also being assisted by Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures, which Fisher also works for, and Alberta Parks, along with the assistance of multiple non-government organizations.